Combined Heat and Power systems for business

The Combined Heat and Power Quality Assurance (CHPQA) Scheme is a voluntary programme for assessing CHP schemes. The responsible person - the person in charge of managing the scheme - can register to apply for certification in accordance with the criteria for Good Quality CHP.

The CHPQA Scheme is administered by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

You can find out what benefits you may be entitled to by submitting a self assessment and certification form. To apply for the CHPQA scheme you need to:

• fill in the application forms
• read the CHPQA Scheme guidance (PDF, 1MB)

In order to maintain certification with the CHPQA Scheme, you will need to submit information about your scheme annually to the DECC. They can assess the actual performance of your CHP scheme, as well as the expected performance of newly designed or upgraded schemes.

How assessment works

Assessment for the CHPQA Scheme is based on threshold criteria - there are indices for efficiency - which must be met or exceeded for your scheme to qualify.

In order to determine the quality of your scheme, DECC will assess data on:

• how much fuel is used
• how much power is generated
• how much heat is supplied

If your scheme qualifies for the CHPQA Scheme, you will be sent a CHPQA Certificate and a proforma letter to apply for a Secretary of State Exemption Certificate. You will need this to claim your benefits.

Find out more about the Combined Heat and Power Quality Assurance Programme on the GOV.UK website.